Meaning & use
above the fray
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Meaning
phraseidiomfigurative
Staying out of a quarrel, competition, or conflict, so as not to be affected by it.
Grammar: Used after verbs like stay, remain, rise, or be.
Patterns
- stay above the fray
- remain above the fray
- rise above the fray
The manager stayed above the fray while the two teams argued.
She tried to remain above the fray during the election.
He likes to be above the fray, and never takes sides.
Common combinations
- stay above the fray
- I'd rather stay above the fray than join the gossip.
- remain above the fray
- The judge must remain above the fray.
- rise above the fray
- He chose to rise above the fray.
- be above the fray
- The captain seemed above the fray.
Synonyms and how they differ
- neutral
- Neutral means not supporting either side, while above the fray also suggests being too dignified to fight.
- detached
- Detached suggests emotional distance, whereas above the fray refers to avoiding the conflict itself.
- aloof
- Aloof implies coldness or unfriendliness, which above the fray does not.
- impartial
- Impartial is about fair judgment, not about avoiding involvement.
Opposites
Word family
- fray noun
- a noisy fight or heated contest
- enter the fray phrase
- to join a contest or dispute
Commonly confused: above the fray or fray (verb)?
above the fray vs fray (verb)
The verb fray means to wear at the edges, as of cloth; the noun fray means a fight.
Practice
What does it mean if a CEO 'stays above the fray' in a dispute between departments?
Choose one answer.
Staying above the fray means avoiding involvement in the conflict. It does not mean she is unaware of it or acts to stop it.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “above the fray”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.